Brick setter



March 3, 1931. G- E, LUCE ET AL 1,794,698

' BRIGKSETTER Filed Oct. 5. 19.29 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 3, l1931. G, E, LUCE E1- AL 1,794,698

BRICK SETTER Filed oct. 5, 1929 5 sheets-sheet 2 ufr- A TTORNEY.

March 3, 1931. G, VE, LUCE ET A| 1,794,698

BRICK SETTER Filed OGL. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet4- 5 34 55 5o 52 5.7. 52 'z w -Fl. 5f ao 728W 57C @1b a7 a7 l l I l i a 75 l u l n n V I N VEN TORS.

v BY M, v Q1! Z Eyg zg March 3, 1931. G, E, LUCE ET AL 1,794,698

K BRICK SETTER Filed Oct. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 TIENE-HEHE lqFlnFlqlE PIE|. 17

'\ a? 'al' I N VEN TOR5,

GK/vf-ra/v E. LUCE. FKH/v/f 6. SEA/TEK.

A TTORNEYS.

March 3, 1931. 3..- E. LUCE ET Al, 1,794,698

l BRICK SETTER` Filed Oct. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 armere/v L". Lz/cf. FAW/VA 6. Senz-EA.

BY mw` A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar.I 3,L 1931 y unirsi)v STATES GRAFTON n. LUCE, orY CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND {FRANK G. snNTiin, or nnELsvILLn, n INDIANA, AssICfNoRs' To LANCASTER InoNWoRxs, ING.,y or LANCASTER, rnNNfv f SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 'BRICK SETTER Alipiication inea octoberfs, 1929.Y seriaiio. 397,607.

Tliisinvention relates to an article haiidling machine. More particularly-it relates to a machine of the general type disclosed in prior patents to. R. C. Peniield, No. 1,205,562, issued November 21,1916, and GraitonE. Luce, No. 1,712,773, issued May 14, 1929,

adapted toA transport a pile of brick or similar articles'in stacked relation. AIn the brick industry this type of brick handling machine` is known as abrick setter and is adapted to transport a unit stack of brick having'a basic course arranged in parallel rows with/open. yings therebetween. The setter is provided with a plurality of horizontally extending` iiiigermembers which may be inserted in the said openings and which are provided with .grasping means for grasping and transportingthe basic course of brick Whiletheupper j courses aresupporvted bers. l The principal object of the presentinven- Jtion is to provide a novel form of grasping mechanism for ytheiingers which overcomes certain difliculties which have heretofore been experienced Ywith mechanism.

upon said `finger mem- 'lhe yprincipal feature ofthe invention vsides in the provision of lan elongatedtlexi'blc l member of spring steel or similar .materiallassociated vwith eachof the finger members with the exception of oneof thelouter linger members. The Iiexible'memberabuts at one end against an abutment fastened to itsjasso? kciated finger member so* that .longitudinal movement of 'the end of the-flexible member with respect tothe linger member is, pre vented. In certain cases theend of the flexiblelmenibermay be rigidly fastenedy to its linger member. Confining'me'ans are `provided-at aplurality of other Apoints to mainy tainthe flexible member'in contactl ,withthe' linger member.

l adjacent Vfinger, members and graspingthe Saillie.

` chips and'other fore] .other tyres' 0f grasping",

For grasping the brick placed between the finger members, longitu- The flexible ,vmembeig When'in non'f. grasping position, lis normally positionedA said recess communicates with the lower side of the ringer and thusV prevents brick dust,v`

'Un ,matter from accumulating ybetween the fexible :member and the ingermember. "The flexible member is rela-l tively thiny in sectionand the recess provided therefor may bemuch shallowerthan that piovic'led forother formsof grasping mechvanism.l A stronger finger member is, therel fore, provided lwith no increase of width or narrowery linger Amay be Aprovided(With no .decrease in strength. Even v vhjen,projectiirg partly from ythe recess,-the'iiexiblebmember provides lessresistance to the insertion of theiingers into the openings inthe basic course of the brick stack .than previous types ,Y

ofgrasping mechanism.. lSince the flexible' member is formed of aresilient material, it

vtends naturally to returnto thejnon-grasping position within the' recess whenjthe' pressure acting thereon hasl been released, ln the brick setters liii common useth finger members are four bricki lengths long.

Ase-parate grasping mechanism is kprovided tween these fingers. mechanism is provided fi'or'; each` ygrasping mechanismA 'In lthe present 'invention a sin gleflexible member confined at thezpoints ad-` picent the ends ofthe brickprovidesa-giasping means for all tour setsoijbrick. yA *sing-le' adjustingl means provides adjustment;v for each finger; A much siiiiplerzioriiiis, there-Kl fore, obtained vfor eachv of the four sets of'brickV placedbe-k A separate adjusting.

Sti

area .of graspingcontactV increasesr asfthe pressure applied to ,the flexible yineiiiberf increases. `By covering a greater areaV of the, brick, less pressure is applied'to the brick at any1-giveny pointand less damage, there-y fore,results. This isparticularly important in handlingbrick in the dry state before burning. Y I

,While the iiiventioirfy de# scribed in connectionv with a. brick settenitj' is to be understood that it is equally applicable to brick loading torks and many other types ot article handling machine-s.

rEhe full nature of the invention will be Vunderstood from the accompanying drawings and the following description. and claims:

Fig. l represents a side view partly in section illustrating one tor-m of the invention applied to the type of setter illustrated in the before-mentioned Luce patent. Fig. 2

is a fragmentary detail of a portion Vof theV illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is'an elevational view of `an, individualV finger member with 'one torni ot the invention Vapplied thereto.

Fig; 8 is a bottom view of the finger member illustrated in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken onfthe line -9-9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is an elevational view of an individual linger member with an alternative 'form of the invention applied thereto. toni viewot the linger member illustrated iii Fig.- 10.` '-Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10. A Fig. 13 is a Asectional vievv taken on the line 13-13 of Fig.Y

10. Fig. 14 isa perspective view ot' aV combined conlining plate and abutmentl used with one foi-in of the invention. Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 10. Fig. 16 is an end viewl of the linger member illustrated in-F ig.f10 showingthe Vform of conlining plate used at that point. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a combined conlining plate and abutment used at the end oi" the linger-member of Fig. V10.

Referring particularly to Figs; 1 and 3, i i'ranie casting 2O is supported by clevises 21 in turn supported byhooks 22 depending from a traveling crane or. other lit-ting and transporting mechanism not shown in the drawings. A turn table casting 23 is posi.- tioned beneath the trame casting 2O and a plurality of travel limit bolts 241 pass through corresponding -holes in the said castings and permit aliniited movement et Vthe traine casting away'from the turn table'casting23 in the lifting ofthe device. Spring stems 25 are provi-ded, likewise passing through both castings land are iitted with `compression springs 2G normally tending to resist the movement of the casting 20 vaway romthe casting 23. v l

The casting 23 has an inturned annular Piange 27 carrying a plurality of ball bearings 28 in turn supporting an annular casting 29.

Fig. llis a bot# As illustrated in Fig. 1., the casting 29 is conlined Within portions of casting 23 and is tree for rotation upon the ball bearings 28. A frame casting 30 is suitably fastened to the casting 2) and supports a plurality or downwardly extending traine members 31. i The members 31 support at their lower ends a horizontally extending channel member 32 fastened thereto byV angle members. 33. A plurality ol horizontally extending parallel linger members 84 are` suitably.supported `from the channel Vmember The finger members 34 are adapted to be inserted in openings in the basiccoui'se in the stack of brick and are spaced at the proper distance apart to support the upper courses ofV brick thereon. In Figl the upper courses of such a stack-ot brick are shown in dotted lines and indicatedY bythe numeral 35. The basic courses are similarly shown andindicated by the numeral 36. ln this drawing a basic course two brick high is illustrated.V However, the invention is equally applicable to a stack ol brick vhaving-7a single basic course when a 1shallowerlinger member isused.

`The frame casting 20 is provided with an opening 37 coaxial with the rotationof the casting 29 and adapted to receive a stem 38. The stem 38 is free to rotatein the opening 37 but is preventedfrom longitudinal movenient relative thereto by collars 39. The lowerend ot the stem 3,8'i's pivotally astened'tcV one end of a lever 40 in turn pivot-ally tas'- l tened at the otlierend to a. portion otV the casting 30. intermediate the ends of the lever is pivotally tas-tenedone end ot a rod 4l having an operating connection at its opposite end with a lever 42. ,The lever 42 is'fiXedly connected to a shaft 43 rotatably mounted upon suitable Vbearings carried upon the' trame members 31. A. plurality of levers V44 are likewise liicedly mounted upon the shaft 4,3 and are one less in number. than the number 'ot liriger members 84. Each of the levers 44 has an operating connection at its lower end with the upper endet a lever 45. All of the levers 45 are freely mounted upon a shalt 46 in turn carriedgin a plurality of eccentricv bushings 47 mounted in bearings 48 carried upon the channel member 32. A stein 56. eX-

tends through openings provided therefor inV thc lower: end of each of the levers 44 and the upper end of each of tlie levers 45. A compression spring 57 surrounds each ot'said stems and abuts atene end against an abut; ment 58 carried by saidsteni and at the other end against the lower end of lever 44. The

opposite ond lotsteni icarries nuts 59 whichl areadjustable to-adj'ust the tension vof the spring 57. Thespring 57 normally tends, therefore, to yieldingly maintain the operating Contact between levers 44 and'v45. The Vlower end of eacliofA the levers 45 is connected'to a pair of links 49 in turn connected toV one'endoi a rigid bar 50. The bar eeV lli

50, as illustratedparticularly in Figs. ,7, 8

and 9, is positioned within a recess inlinger members 34 and extends substantially the full length thereof.. The outer end of the bar 50 is'fixedly connected A'to a flexible member 51 preferablyof springsteel or other resilient material.- f The member 51 isarranged within the recess in the'fingery member'34 and sub- A stantially .parallels the bar member 50. A Ata Y le engaged therewith.

plurality of .points along the'finger'member `the-.plate at'the'oute-r end of the finger mem-v ber. The pins 5.3- extend through: openings 54 providedk inthe bar member 50 and openings, 55, 55c and 55d provided-,in the flexible member and preferably extend into the fingermembers 54 and are tlireadedlyk It will be observed thatthe'fopening 55L in the fiexible member l is associatedy with the innermostof the confining plates 52 andv is substantially the same size as the pin 53.y No longitudinalV movement of the flexible member is, therefore, possible at this point.` By means -ofl this construction the. withdrawal of the bar to the left as Aillustrated in Figs. 7 and'8 exerts a longitudinalipressure upon the flexible member 51 which causes they portions thereof between the confining plates 52 Vto spring outwardly into the position .in-

dic-ated by dotted lines in Fig. 8. yThese ,por-

i tions, therefore', exert a pressure upon the brick between the finger members Aand cause them to be firmlygrasped for lifting and transportation. Since the confining plates are located .adjacent the ends of the brick, the

i L i initial. contact Vofthe flexiblevv member with the brick takesplace at the ccnterof the brick. It is also levident that the greater the pressure applied tothe bar 50, the'greater is the area of the surface of the flexible member 'I brought into contact with thebrick.V The openings 55c and 55d are elongated in form and of sufhcient length so that the. longitudinal movement of the flexible member is not limited thereby in the normal operation f of the apparatus with a full complement of brick. .i Therefore, the pressure exerted by the flexible member uponl the brick is substantially equally divided'between the four brick units. To provide an initial curvature of the flexible member and thereby insure its proper action, a plurality .of protubera'nc'es 56 are -provided on the finger Ymember `34interniediatev the ,confining plates 52.

It isoften Vdesirable `tonsea brick setter y designed for-a four-brick unit-to lift a unit.

less Athan four brick in width; Tolaccomplish this purpose the openings 55, 55?V and 55*i rare made of increasing lengths in the order mentioned. In picking up a unit only three brick in width the fingers '3.4 are insertedv far enough in the unit'to bringthe three-,brick in position adjacent the three outer grasping portions of the flexible member.- If the longiy tudinal travel of the flexible member were unlimited the inner graspingportion thereof would then be free to expand sufficiently to absorb all of the said movement.. No pressure would then be exerted upon .the brick adjacent the three outer .portionsy By limiting Vthe size of the opening 55b thel'lo-ngitudinal movement of the Vflexibleqmember is sof limited at that point and the travel of theinner grasping portion away from the finger member is accordingly limited. A normal prcssureis thereby secured4 upon each of the three brick units in the three outer positions.. By similarly choosing thelength ofthe openings 55c and 55c1 a stackof brick two brick in .width orone brick inwidthmay .similarly be grasped.

Inthe operation of the setter the springs.

`26'are adjustedto overcome the weight of, the' setter mechanism depending from" the bolts 25. Therefore, they normally maintain-the castings 23 and 2O in contact with eachother so long as no'brick arecarried bythe setter. With the said castings in contact, the stem 3S positions the lever 40, stem 41 and lever 42 in tlieirlowermost positions. YThe levers 44 are, therefore, outwardly pressed against the upper end oflevers 45 which in turn position the bar members 50 at the outerend of their? longitudinal movement. In this position the flexible members lare free to assume their positions within the recesses in the linger members 34. Theiinger members may, therefore, be inserted within the openings in the basic course of brick. When so inserted the setter isflifted by means ofthe hooks 22 and the weight ofthe upper courses lof brick upon the setter 'fingers prevents upward movement of the said lin gers untilthe springs f 2G have Ybeen compressed and the castings 2O and 23 .have been moved apart rtothe limit of their Atravel as determined by the length of bolts 24. The relatii-*emovement ofthe' castings 2O and 23 causes the stem 38 to elevate thelever .40,A rodV 4l and.v lever yand Ato moye thelevers 44 inward. AAThis move-ment causes 'a pressure upon the springs 57 which inv turn 1 operatesfthefleve'rs 45' to withdraw thebar members-50. The said Withdrawal' of the bar member 50 exerts the necessary force yupon thevflexible memberl to force theV portions 125 thereof f between the. .confining g; plates 52 against the brick in thebasic course'. .The

.brick are, therefore, tightly grasped andfur b rick andthe adjustment. of` theksaid springs provides a methodof cqnalizing the pressures on the individual grasping mechanisms.

From. the abovev description it is evidentv For manual operation 'of' the grasping members when a single course of brick is to be lifted, a hand lever 57 is provided. The said lever is flxedly mounted upon a shaft 58 suitably Y supported upon bearings carried upon the frame members 3l. Aplurality ofy spur gears 59 are carried upon the-said shaft and engage spur gears 60 which are formed integral with the eccentric bushings 47 heretofore'mentioned. The lever 57 is normally maintained inl a non-active position by a keeper G1. `For. manual operation of the graspingfingers thelever 5G is pulled outwardly and downwardly rotating the shaft 58, the 'gears' 59 and 60 and the eccentric bushingse?. Therotationof the said bushings throws the shaft i6 outwardly 4and since the upper ends ofv levers 45 are inedly maintained by their Contact with levers t4 the lower ends of the leversi are outwardly moved. This movement of.' levers 45 4actua-tes the ffrasning mechanism in the same manner b .L u as previously described.

ln Figs. il and 6 the type of grasping mechanism previously described illustrated applied to the typeof brick setter illustrated in the before-mentioned Penfield 'patenti In these drawings a turntable mechanism gen'- erally indicated by the numeral' 62 is supported by means of hooks 63 upon a common type of overhead crane or other lifting and transporting mechanism. `VDepending from the turn table GQtliere is a` plurality of link members G4.. The said link members G4; are attacher. at their lower ends to a pair of substantially 'l1-shaped members 65 each having a horisontalportion 66 to whichthe said link members are attached anda vertical portion 67. Each of the vertical portions 67 isadapted to slide between a pair of verticalv frame members 68. Rollers 69 are. supported uponV the members and engage the members. 68

for maintaining the relative position of the said members and for permitting vertical relative motion only therebetween. The upward travel ofthe 'F1-members `(i5w'vith relation toj thel frame members G8 is limited by a block Y 1., 794, ses?.

7 O interposed ybetween the niembers68 at their upper ends.

The frame members 68 form a part of a rigid frame workwhich also includesV a plu-l rality of frame members 7l and a. horizontally extending member v7 2 to which linger members 84 of the same'type as heretofore described are fastened. vPivot-.ally attached to one end Vof the horizontal portion 66 of each of the T-inembers 65 there is a. Vdownwardly extending adjustable link 73. A bar member 74 is pivotally attached at Aeach end to the lower ends of the linksy 70. Substantially parallel with thebar 74 is a bar 75 and a link 7 6 is pivotally fastened aty each end to the mid-points of said bars. A pair of levers 77 arepivotally mounted at Vone end to va kpor-V tion of the frame members 71 andeach of said levers is 'connected by a link 78v witliroiie end of the bar 75. A yoke 79'is attachedto each of the levers 7.7 anda horizontally extend.`

ing channel member 8O is supported by the said yokes. A plurality of compression springs 81 are interposed'between the levers` 77 and a portion of the frame 71.

ln the operation of Ythis mechanism the" initial lifting of the turn table member vtends to elevate the T-members'65. The elevation ofthe Tfmenibers 65, by means of the .series of linkages described, elevates the channel member 8O and tends to elevate.- the rigid frame work and the'iinger membersattached thereto by compression ofV the springs 8l.

The springsSl are a'djustedso that the'rigidV frame-work and the said finger members will be elevated simultaneously withthe channel membersBO so long as no brick are in position upon the fingers; VZhen a. stack of brickv is supported uponV the lingers the springs Sl will be compressed and relative motion will occur between the channel and the linger members 34 until tlie'T-members 65 vreach the blocks 70.` This relative movement of the lingers 34 and the ychannel 8O is utilized to operate the graspingmechanism as will now bedescribed. Y Y

plurality of rearwardly extending.mem-V bers 82 .are vattached to the member 72 and.

form abearing for a horizontal shaft 83. T he shaft 83 in turn forms a pivot for a` plurality of bell crank members 84, one arm of each of which is attached to oneofthe'barmembers 50 heretofore mentioned. The opposite arm of each of the` bell cranks is attached to a spring stem 85 extending upwardlyV through the channel member 80 and being fitted with an adjustable compression springV 86. By this'means the elevation of the channel member 80, when a load of brick is'prese'nt upon the linger members 34, operates the bar 50 to grasp the brick. The provision ofthe springs 86 insures'tliatthere willbe no excess pressure iiponthe brick and the adjustable fea.-

ture of the said springs provides afinethodof 1 maintaining substantially equal pressures upon the brick grasped by each of the grasping-mecha isms. `l A 1 ln Figs. 5,' 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 1 6 there is illustn ted an alternative form ofthe invention whichniay be applied to either of the foregoing -types of 'brick setters. lnv this fornilinger members 34 arepifovidedwith vrecesses 34a similarto those inlingcr meinbers 34 andmay be similarlysupported upon vthe bricksetter framework. il confining plate and abutinent is tc-ncdjat the. outer end,v of each finger m'cmberfas illustrat-ed in Figs. 16 and 1T; fl'ach plate 88 has a portion 88 bent about the 'end of the finger member 34 and a portion 8S) bent 4about the lower' surfaceofthe finger. The end of fthe recess 34a extends' behind'the plate 88 and forms a pocket forrthe reception of the end of 'afiexible member'87. The flexible member 537 'is' substantially the saine length as the lffine'er ,memberv and is normally positioned within the recessA 34a'. A plurality of con- "fii'iing Aplates 89a, 89'?, '89 and 89d are pro- `'video having the 'same function asY the plates 52 in the previousillustrations. The con- "finin'g plate 89h, locatedat substantially'the "zia,

mid-point ofthe finger'me'mben'is" pro-vided with an inturned portion 89e `which-serves to `confine the flexible member 87 and also serves as an abutmentv for` a second 'flexible member 90'.v `The lflexible member 90V is substantially half' 'the length of the flexible 'member87A and isl'ikewise contained inthe recess 34a and extends substantially parallelV with the flexible member'S?. Thetwofi xible members are joined to a short rigid bar 91by suitable rivets or screws 92;'V The 'bar 91 ris pivotally Vconnected to aplink 93 'in vturn yconnected tothe lower arm ofabell crank`94. The bell crank 93 is mounted on ayshaft 95 jo-urnalcd in rearwardly-extending ymembers 96 in -turn sup- 'ported4 upon the frame' member 72,' The oppositel arm ofthe bell crank 94 is attached to v a spring stem 97 extending through channel member 80 and fitted l,with adjustable comlpression springs 98. j f f A *fA pair of plats, 99 are inset inthe finger member and have; a curved surface incon- 'talct withv the inner surface of the flexible member 87. The plates 99 serve to give'tlie desired initial ci'irvature to` the saidiflexible 'linembei". A pairof plaies 100 are'likewise i'nsetinthe fingerjmember but spaced ihercfrom as illustratedin Figs. 11 and 13 to allow the fiexible member 87 to passV therebetween. These plates, therefore, actas addition al confining plates for the'flexible meinberf?. The outer surface of the plates 100 y"a'reVcurved to Contact with theinner surface initial curvature thereof. Y

of'iiexible member' 90 and provide the desired c n Y vventing' longitudinalV motion: of said flexible By this construction the relative motion'- ofthe channel member 80 Aand the finger member 34 in the lifting of Valo-adof brick exerts a thrust uponthe bar-91 and the two combined t same gripping force upon the brick.

iiexibleinembers 87`a-nd '90. This outward thrust causes the said flexible members toasi sume the positions illustrated in dotted lines in, Fig. 11y andtliereby graspthe brick. It

will be noted that the confining plates 100 prevent the flexible member 87 from being forced away from the 'finger member 34 in the. iiiner pair of grasping spaces. t will also be noticed that the motion of the bar 91 need, be only half as great as the corresponding motion of the bar 50 in the preceding embodiment ofthe invention in order to pro-vide the The force applied to bar 91, however, mustbe twice as great as that applied to bar 50. l

the use of fonrilexible members in -plalcefof the two here illustrated, one of which being associated with each grasping space, the inotion of the bar 91 Vmay be made only onefourth as' great as the bary 50 with a corresponding increase in the pressure required. By a suitablereversal of the leverages in the Luce type of setter to provide a thrust on the bar 91 instead of a pull, this form of the'invention may be conveniently applied thereto.'v

ther variations in the detaiis of the invention are possible without departing from Vthe broader fea-tures thereof.

The invention claimed is: I f

l. In an article moving device, vthe combination of ay pair of spaced apartfinger members adapted to receive an article therebetween, a flexible member associated `ywith said article against the second. of said finger members for grasping and moving lthe same.

2. In an article moving device, Vthe combination of a pair of spaced apart finger members adapted to receive an article therebetweema flexible member associated ywith one of'said finger members, means formam- `taining said flexible member in Contact with lits associated fingermember lat a plurality of points, andl mechanism for applying a longitudinal force to said'flexible member whereby the vportion ofthe same between said points is forced away from the associated finger member topress said4 article against the second of saidlinger members for grasping and moving the same.

3. In an article moving device, the combination fo'f a' pair of spaced apart linger members adapted to receive fan articletherebetvveem'a flexiblefmember associated with one ofj'said linger members, means for prevsaid flexible member in contact with said iin-- gerl member at another-point, and mechanism for forcing said flexible member Aaway from said finger member'b'etween said points to press said article against the second of said finger members for grasping and moving the same. l

4. In an article moving device, the eom bination of a pa-ir of spaced apart finger .iembers adapted to receive an article therebetween, a flexible member associated with one of saidV finger members, means for preventing longitudinal motion of said flexible member with respect to its associated finger member at one point, means for maintaining said flexible member in contact with said fin-A ger member at another point, and mechanism for applying a longitudinal force to said flexible member, whereby the portion of the same between said points is forced away from the associ-ated finger member to press said article against the second of said finger members for grasping and moving the same.

5. In an article moving device, the combination of a pair of spaced apart finger members adapted to receive an article therebetween, a flexible member disposed longitudinally of onerof said finger members, means for preventing longitudinal motion of said flexible member with respect to its associated finger member at one point, and

. mechanism for a a al ineF a lon Oitudinal force h i t3 to said flexible member whereby a portion of said member is forced away from its associated finger member to press said article against the other of said finger members for grasping and moving the same.

6. In an article moving device,` thecombination of a. pair of spaced apart finger members adapted to receive an article therebetween, a flexible member associated with one of said finger members, means for maintaining said flexible member in contact with its associated finger member at a plurality of points, protuberances upon said finger nie1nbei' between said points for imparting an initial curvature to said fiexible member, and mechanism for applying a` longitudinal force to said flexible member, Iwhereby the portion of the same between said points is forced. away from the associated` finger iember to press said article Vagainst the second of said finger members forgrasping and moving the same. A

7 In an article moving device, the combination of a pair of spaced apart finger members adapted to receive an article therebetween, ay flexible member associated with one of said finger members, means for preventing longitudinal motion of said flexible member with respect to its associated lfinger member at one point, means for maintaining said fiexible member in Contact with said finger member at another point, a protuberance upon said nger member` between said point-s vfor imparting an initial curvature to said flexible member, and mechanism for apmatices bination of a pair of spaced apart finger members adapted to receive articles therebetween and to support other articles thereon,A

a flexible member associated with one of said finger members, `means for maintaining said flexible member in contact with its associated finger member at a plurality of points, means for lifting said finger members, and an operating connection between said finger members and said flexible member operable by the weight of the articlessupported upon said finger members in the lifting thereof to force the portion of said flexible member between said contact points away from the associated finger member to press the articles between said finger members against the second of said finger members for grasping and lifting the same. Y

9. In an article handling device, the combination of a pair of spaced apart finger members adapted to receive articles therebetween and to support other articles thereon, a flexible member associated with one of said finger members, meansfor maintaining said flexible member in contact with its associated fingerv member at al plurality of points, meansfor lifting said finger members, and an operating connection between said finOer members and said flexible member operable bythe weight of the articles supported npon saidV finger members in the lifting thereof to apply a longitudinal forceto said flexible binationfof a pair of spaced apart finger members adapted to receive articles therebetween and to` support other articles thereon, a fiexible member associated with one of said finger members, means for preventing longitudinal motion of said flexible member with respect to its associated finger member at ino one point, means for maintaining said flexible member in contact with its associated finger member at another point, means for lifting said vfingermembers, and an operating connection between said finger membersand said flexible member operable by the weight of the articles supported upon said finger members in the lifting thereof to force the portion ofsaid fiexible member between said points @imanes away from the associated finger member t0 press the articles between said finger members against the second of said finger meinbers for grasping and lifting the same.

ll. In an article handling device, the combination ofa pair ofspaced apart finger mem bers adaptedto receive articles therebetween and to sun'aort other articles thereon a flexl i 1\ i l n i binationf et` afpairof 'fspacedk-1 apartvk finger ible member associated with one of said finger members, means for vpreventing longitudinal motion of saidflexiblemember with respect to itsassociatcd finger member at one point, means for maintaining said flexible member in contact with its associated finger member atanotlier point, means for lifting said finger members, and an operating connection between said finger members and said flexible member operable by the weight of the articles supported upon said finger members in the lifting thereof to apply a longitudinal force to said flexible member, whereby the Vportion of the same between'said points is.

forced away from the associated finger member to press the articles between said finger members against thesecond of said members -f for grasping and lifting the same.

l2. In an article grasping device a grasping` member, and mechanism for applying a force thereto for grasping an article, the area of grasping contact between said member and said article increasing with an increase of said force. Y

13. In an article. handling machine adapted to lift a stack of articles having a basic course formed of parallel rows of' articles having openings therebetween, the combination of a supporting frame, a plurality of horizontal finger members supportedthereon and adapted to be inserted in said openings, a relatively thin flexible member associated with each of said fingermembers, con lining means ata plurality of points along said finger members adapted vto permit longitudinal movement only of said flexible memi bers'at said points, and mechanism for applying a compressive force to the ends of said flexible members, whereby said members are forced awa-y from said finger members be# tween said points of confinement to press said articles against adjacent finger members for grasping and lifting the same. a

14. In an article handling device, the combination of a pair of spaced apart finger mem-V rbers adapted te receive an article therebeti fcen, a flexible member associated with one of said finger members, a confining member attached to said finger member and adapted to prevent movement of one end of said flexj ible member away from said linger member, an abutment attached to said finger member for preventing longitudinal movement of the v f said end of the flexible member with respect to said finger member in one direction, a sec ond `confining member adapted to prevent movement of another portion of said flexible Smembefi'- laway vfrenisaid linger member', and

id :flexible member whereby the .portion l5.r In an article handling device,-thecom nienibersff adaptedy to'y receive'f' an' article' therebetween, ta f'flexible 'member v associated with one "of 's d finger members,v a combined confi'ning andrab'utment member attached'tosaid finger member andadapted topreventmoven ment of one end ofsaid flexible ymember jaw ay from said finger member and to prevent'lo'n-- `gi-tud-i`nal movement-'ofthe said end 0f the flexible-member with respect to said finger member in vone direction, a second confining.

member adapted to prevent movement of another portion of said flexible member away` from said finger member, and mechanism for applying a longitudinal force to said flexible f member whereby kthe portion of-said member between said confining members will beforced away from said finger member to press said article against the other of said finger members for grasping the same.

16.V In anarticle handling device, the combination of 'spaced lapart finger members adapted yto Vreceive articles therebetween,V a

. flexible member associated with one of said finger members, a combined confining and abutment member attached to said finger member a-nd adapted to prevent movement of one end of said flexible .member away from said finger member and to prevent longituditudinal movement of the said end of the flexifble member with respect to said finger mem# ber in one direction, a second flexible member" associated with said finger member, a second combined confining and abutment member adapted to prevent movement of another part of said first flexible member away from said finger member, to prevent movement of one end of the second flexible member away from said finger member and to prevent lon- ,gitudinal movement of the said end of the ksecond flexible'member'with respect to said fingermember in one direction, a third confining'member adapted to yprevent movement of Vanother portion ofy said second flexible member away from said finger member, and mechanism for applying alongitudinal force to the opposite ends of both of said flexible members whereby the portion of saidffirst flexiblemember Vbetween the first and second confining. members and the portion of said second flexible member betweenthe second and third confining members will be forced;`

-away from said finger member rto press said varticles against the other of said finger members for grasping the same. .f p

17. In an article handling device, anarticle grasping element including an elon-f Vgatedfnger member having a longitudinal Y grasped. A

recess in one side, an elongated flexible member normally disposed within said recess, means for confining portions of said flexible member Within said recess `and mechainsm for forcingother portions thereof out of said recess to make contact with an article to be 18. An article grasping e-lement as defined by claim 17 characterized by said recess communicating with the lower surface of lsaid linger member to prevent -accumulation of foreign matter lbetvveen said fngerfmember Y and said flexible member. Y Y

In Witness whereof, we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

GRAFTQN E. LUCE. FRANK G. SENTER. 

